South-eastern Europe Health Network sub-regional workshop “Improving capacity for injury prevention through improved injury surveillance”

Every year injuries cause a significant number of deaths and human suffering in the WHO European Region, and pose a threat to the Region’s economic and social development. Unintentional injuries are responsible for two-thirds of all injury deaths, accounting for some 500 000 deaths and 15 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) lost. Following two World Health Assembly resolutions, injury surveillance and prevention has been given increased priority in the European Region.

The workshop was organized by the WHO Regional Office for Europe on 15–16 October 2013 in Belgrade, Serbia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Serbia and with the support of the Norwegian Directorate of Health. There were 37 participants, including 10 focal persons from 9 Member States belonging to the South-east European Health Network. Larger delegations participated from Serbia and Norway as well as staff from the WHO Regional Office for Europe.The format of the meeting was a series of key note lectures followed by group work.